Timber joint construction in walls, panels, partitions, and prefabricated timbers therefor



July 12, 1955 A JENSEN 2,712,678

TIMBER JOINT CONSTRUCT IN WALLS, PANELS, PARTITIONS, AND PREFABRI EDTIMBERS THEREFOR Filed March 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AY Z I H 7 1 A'TORA/5 m United States atent Ofiice 2,712,678 Patented July'12, 1955TIMBER JOINT CONSTRUCTION IN WALLS, PANELS, PARTITIONS, AND PREFABRI-CATED TIMBERS THEREFOR Canada The present invention relates to timberstructures and, more specifically, to the jointing arrangement oftimbers in construction of walls, partitions, panels and the like. Theinvention is concerned in particular, too, with prefabricated timbersfor use in building such structures.

The main feature of the invention consists in that when theprefabricated timbers disclosed herein are driven together inperpendicularly interlocking joints, the corners of the crossed portionsof the timbers are impacted by such driving together and maintain thejoint rigid. It is considered that such joints are much superior intightness, durability and rigidity than known prior art driven joints,and yet the timber design giving rise to these advantages is simple andinexpensive to produce.

The provision of timber so designed renders feasible the assembly ofeconomical, attractive and durable structures. All the wall, partitionand panel units for such a structure may be quickly and easily assembledand jointed together from timber prefabricated according to the designof the structure. In the erection of such units, such things as spikes,drift-pins, bolts, pegs, glue, etc., will be found unnecessary in mostcases, since the prefabricated timber facilitates construction of tightdriven joints of the type set forth above. The joints are largelyconcealed, giving an attractive appearance, and the walls so erected maybe left unsheeted or else covered without additional furring.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the main object of theinvention is to provide prefabricated dimensional timbers of greatlyimproved design, and which will facilitate construction or erection ofeconomical, attractive and strong structures for a variety of purposes,including homes, cottages, garages, outdoor stores and warehouses, etc.

Another important object resides in the provision of an improved jointsuch as is obtained from driving together timbers shaped in accordancewith this invention.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the reading ofthis specification.

As an example, and for purposes of illustration, a preferred embodimentof the invention is shown in the annexed drawing, disclosing the designof prefabricated timber according to the invention and the nature ofjoints constructed according to the principles of the invention, andwherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective or isometric view of a joint constructedwith prefabricated timber shaped in accordance with the spirit of theinvention;

Figure 2 shows a section through the joint of Figure 1 this view beingtaken on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 shows an elevation view of such a joint with a timber about tobe driven into jointed position, and

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a typical structure illustratingthe use of walls jointed, and assembled from prefabricated timber,according to the principles of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the crossed portions of two timbers, showingthe relationship of the core portions of in any desired manner each andthe areas of contact of corner portions at the ends of the core portionswhen the timbers are brought to position for being interfitted.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section of one timber as disposed in crossedrelationship with another preparatory to their being interfittedtogether.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on line 7-7 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the impacting of theengaged corner portions upon the crossed pieces being driven together.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the same reference charactersdenote corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 shows a perspective viewof my tight driven joint, this embodiment thereof being, for example, aninterlocking joint forming a portion of the joint between twoperpendicularly disposed walls. The walls so connected are made up of aplurality of prefabricated timbers of this invention superimposed oneupon the other.

Considering the timbers of which the walls of Figure 1 are assembled, itis seen that these timbers are dimensional, that is, all are milled tothe same predetermined overall dimensions. The timbers have an overallwidth indicated by the arrows 10, an overall depth indicated by thearrows 11, and are superimposed longitudinally one on top of the otherto form a wall, partition, or panel. Where such walls must be jointed,as at the corner of a building or where a partition connects at its endwith another wall, the individual timbers of each of such a constructionunit are interlocked to form an appropriate joint, alternate timbersinterlocked in such a joint belonging to a single wall or partition. Inorder that the superimposed timbers of an individual wall or partitionbe more closely held together and constitute a tighter, better insulatedunit, it is further preferred that either the upper or lower surface ofeach timber carry a longitudinal groove 12 therein, the other surfacebeing provided with a tongue 13 co-operable with such a groove. Exceptfor the fact that the timbers will normally be of a substantialthickness owing to the purpose for which they are used (i. e. exteriorwalls or buildings and other structures), and that the tongue and groovedimensions will hence be somewhat larger than those customarilyemployed, this type of longitudinal jointing arrangement isconventional.

The main features of the design of the prefabricated timber of thisinvention, and hence of the joint constructed therefrom, is inherent inthe shape of the timbers at the interlocking joint joiningperpendicularly disposed walls, panels or other members constructed fromsuch timber. Obviously for such interlocking to take place, the timbersmust be notched or otherwise recessed to form a portion of reducedcross-section where the walls intersect in order for the timbers to becrossed one over the other without forming any gap in the wall orpartition unit.

To thus reduce the depth in cross-section of the timbers at the point atwhich they cross, notches are cut out of the top and bottom of eachtimber at this crossing location to reduce this portion of the timber toa core 14 somewhat less in depth than one-half of the dimensionrepresented by arrow 11. If the length of this reduced portion of thetimber, that is to say the core 14, is equal to or somewhat greater thanthe overall width of a timber to be set at right angles through thiscore (equal to or greater than dimension represented by arrow 10) thenthe timbers may be easily laid across one another, successively at rightangles, to form an interlocking joint.

Such joints as that described immediately above have been used in thepast, and have been found satisfactory for a variety of purposes,particularly where supplemented by glue, drift-pins, or otherreinforcing elements. However, such joints are not suitable in theconstruction of exterior wall jointing or in giving a firm, tight jointbetween walls and intermediate partitions connected thereto. There is notightness inherent in the shape of '14 (the reduced portion of thetimber) is appreciably less than the dimensions represented by the arrow10. The length of core 14, represented by arrow 15, is in other wordsmade appreciably less than the overall width of the timber which is tobe laid across this core 14.

It will hence be appreciated that the first characteristic of timberprefabricated for interlocking purposes according to this invention isthat the core of reduced depth of each timber is of a length less thanthe overall width of a timber to be laid across such core.

With an arrangement confined to the foregoing characteristic, obviouslyit would be impossible to drive timbers together to form an interlockingjoint, since the driving of a timber into a recess less in width thanthe timber would cause fracture or splitting to occur. Therefore, asecond characteristic of the timber of this invention is that each isrecessed laterally in registration with the notches defining core 14 toreduce the width of the said core. Looking at Figure 3, it is seen thatthe width of 14 is represented by the arrow 16. This dimension isappreciably less than the overall width of the timber and is designed tobe substantially identical to the length 15 of the core laid at rightangles to the first mentioned timber.

The lateral recesses and top and bottom recesses or notches defining thecore 14 of each timber are all in registration. 7 Thus it is only thecore 14 which is reduced in overall width or depth, the said core beingreduced in depth by more than one-half of the original depth 11 of 1 thetimber, the core being reduced in width to a width similar orsubstantially identical to the length of the core of a timber laid atright angles thereto, and the length of the core being substantiallyless than the overall width of a timber to be laid at right anglesthereto.

'When two such timbers are placed in crossed relationship, one upon theother, preparatory to being joined, the engaging corner portions of thetwo pieces, that are adjacent the ends ofrthe recesses which define thecrossed core portions, will interfere with each other, as has beenillustrated in Fig. 5. pon the driving of these crossed timberstogether, to cause their recessed portions to be interfitted, theinterfering corner portions become impacted. Such impacting causes adeforming and compressing of the wood fibers and they then exert anexpanding force that tends to seal the joint and maintain the rigidityof the connection.

It will be apparent that, were the timbers to have a rectangularcross-section, a tendency would exist for the edges or corners 17 ofthese timbers to become fractured or split away from the body of thewood upon commencement of the wedging of an individual timber upon topof another. This tendency may be avoided, without in any waydepreciating the quality of the joint, by rounding off the upper andlower longitudinal corners of each timber, or shaping the timbers totaper inwardly in width towards the top and bottom thereof. With such ashape, there will be no tendency for the edges 17 to become fractured asone timber is driven into place on top of another, since the shape ofthe timber side will permit the memberbeing driven into place to wedgeitself between the edges 17 of the lower timber and result in anexcellent impacting efiect of these edges without fracture thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown the relationship of the lower roundedcorner portions, designated at x, of the upper timber as engaged againstthe upper corner portions, designated at y, of the lower timber beforethese two parts have been driven together.

in Fig. 8, i have illustrated the bending and impacting of the woodfibers of these two parts upon their being driven together. It can beunderstood that the rounding of the two lower corner portions, as hasbeen clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, gives the recess entering portionof the upper timber a tapered efiect that permits of a relatively easyentrance to the recess. This entrance would be practically impossible,however, without the rounding or tapering of the corners. Once the entryof the thus re duced part of the upper timber into the recess of thelower timber is made, the driving together of the timbers is madepossible, with the fiber bending and impacting result that has beenillustrated in Fig. 8.

it is to be pointed out, however, that the rounding of the corners mustbe to such extent that the width of the timber, as measured across thetop and bottom surfaces between the inner limits of the opposite roundedcorner portions is less than the distance between the opposite endsurfaces of the recesses to be entered. In Figs. 5 and 6, site roundedcorner portions is represented by the length of the double ended arrow20 and the distance between the end surfaces of the recess is designatedby the double ended arrow 21. This arrow also represents the length ofthe core. The rounding of the corners, as seen in Fig.

6. results in giving this part of the timber a tapered effect that makesits entry into the recess possible without splitting and also in thedriving of the parts together, results in the impacting of the fibers inthe manner desired, and as shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 8, the arrows g and h represent the relative di rection ofmovement of the timbers in driving them to gether and the small arrowsI: represent the direction of bending of the wood fibers by reason ofthe driving together of the parts. 7

Timbers of this character when assembled and exposed over a period oftime in the weather, will shrink to more or less extent and thus thejoints will tend toward becoming open. It is to be pointed out as afeature of the present invention, that as such shrinkage may occur, thefibers of the wood which constitute the impacted joints will tend toresume their normal straight position and by reason of this tendencythey automatically take up any looseness that would otherwise occur. Thefact that these joints do automatically retain their tightness is to agreat extent, the measure between the satisfactory and unsatisfactoryuse of timbers joined in this way. Thus the accurate dimensions of therecesses which define the core portions of the timbers is of importanceboth for proper interfitting of crossed portions of the timbers and foreffecting the impacting of those portions that constitute the joints.

Obviously, from the foregoing, the present invention realizes theobjective set forth above. Whilst of exceedingly simple design which isproducible by standard methods of shaping wood, the invention enablesanyone wishing to erect a structure consisting of interlocking walls orpartitions, etc., to obtain exceedingly tight joints, which are alsostrong and durable, without making use of bolts, pegs, drift-pins,spikes or other devices. In the manner described, a complete structuremay be assembled simply by laying timbers successively one on top ofeach other at right angles, the walls being thus erected from ground upwithout requirements of any undue skill .or other fastening devices. maybe provided for such purposes at reasonable cost and may be easily andquickly produced.

I claim:

1. In a building structure, a plurality of similarly notched elongatetimbers interfitted in criss cross relation, one upon the other, each ofsaid timbers having the distance between the inner limits of the oppo-Prefabricated timbers transverse notches in their top and bottomsurfaces and vertical notches in their opposite side faces intersectingthe transverse notches to define a core of reduced height and width, thelength of each core being appreciably less than the overall width of thetimbers so that the vertical edges of the timbers on opposite sides ofthe vertical notches effect interference with corresponding portions ofthe similar timbers interfitted therewith, the longitudinal edges of thetimbers, at least in the vicinity immediately adiacent opposite sides ofthe vertical notch, being rounded whereby to effect a gradualinterference when interfitted with like timbers.

2. A building structure as in claim 1 wherein the height of the core isless than one-half the height of the timber.

3. A building structure as in claim 1 wherein the core portion issubstantially a cube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

